Erdington Arts Forum: December 2007

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Monday 10 December 2007

View from the Gravelly Hills

Sundown 10 12 07

Erdington Arts Forum links hands with North Birmingham Community Arts

This years AGM saw the voting in of Mr Paul Brian Tovey as Vice Chair to replace the outgoing Tina George. Paul has been a member of the forum for some time now and we welcome his expertise in the field of arts and mental health.

NBCA was set up by Paul and myself some eighteen months ago, firstly as an on-line entity and then, on receipt of a grant from Awards for All we were able to establish regular sessions at the 610 centre in Kingstanding where we meet to practice art, design and fellowship for mental health service users from all over the city. We felt that it was important to create an organisation that addressed these issues in the north of the city as there is an apparent lack of provision for the arts in general and mental health arts in particular.

This position (proposed by myself) and in consultation with Paul and Patrick will firstly allow for a small joint publicity venture using a portion of NBCA funds to create a set of postcards which will promote both organisations as well as our locality and over time, help to further develop EAFs' links with the community and bring dynamic interest and diversity into the forum.

Pauls work as an artist is very much focused on locality and family narrative and his and my interest in these issues as well as links with Highcroft Hospital have brought us together in exploring some common goals; how art and art practice can be a corollary to mental well being (without being considered therapy), support recovery and help to develop individual independence, serve as a vehicle to explore the notion and sense of locality and give the opportunity to meet up and have fun!

We have yet to confirm the details but expect that a small number of different designs will be required and as well as Paul creating some unique cartoons for us there may be the chance to put your own designs forward for consideration.

This is just a small beginning and we hope that more promotions projects will be getting off the ground pretty soon and links with more organisations will be forged. There's strength in numbers and we can create an ethos of mutual support which will help us grow as a group and spread a little art magic around Erdopolis.

sdh.

NEWS

Contemporary Art practice in Erdopolis.

This coming Friday (14th) between 4.00 & 6.00pm. Birmingham based artist Alicja Rogalska and students Kate, Nicola and Fay from BCU MA course in Contemporary Curatorial Practice (http://thekeeperstricks.blogspot.com/) will be setting up outside the library and projecting text which comments on cultural identity with particular reference to the Polish community and then gauging the response of passers-by. We will be documenting their activity for inclusion on the EAF blog site (http://erdoarts.blogspot.com) and we welcome them to Erdington. It is hoped that sometime soon Alicja will be visiting the forum to give a talk about the project and this will serve to continue an ongoing process of art practice in the town which is beginning to gain momentum.

sdh.